Penalty kicks send Torrey Pines boys to first Open Division soccer title (by Ken Grosse)

Post date: Feb 28, 2019 7:06:24 AM

How closely matched were CIF Boys Soccer Open Division finalists Torrey Pines and Point Loma? When they met early in the regular season, they played to a 3-3 tie. Friday night in the section finals at Mission Bay High School, the two teams finished 80 minutes of regulation and 15 minutes of overtime knotted at 3-3. Which meant the winner would be determined by penalty kicks and both top-seeded Torrey Pines and seventh seed Point Loma had each prevailed once via PKs in this tournament.

The Falcons’ junior goalkeeper Nick Bello guessed correctly and turned away the Pointers first shot and when senior Michael Mines put his away, Torrey finally had a lead it would never surrender. After another pair of fourth-year players, Alec Philibbosian and Ted Merrifield converted to give the Falcons a one-goal advantage after four rounds, the Pointers final shooter went off the crossbar and Coach Andy Hargreaves’ squad added its first Open Division title to three CIF D-I and two D-II banners. (more)